Concrete expansion joints



June 24, 1958 J. N; VHELTZEL 2,839,973

CONCRETE EXPANSION JOINTS Filed Jan. 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R Union $mz'ngs and Trust Company and Carl J. He/fze/ tars June 24, 1958 J. N. HELTZEL 2,839,973

' CONCRETE EXPANSION JOINTS Filed Jan. 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 7 PI 9) D a n 'i" "H I/YV/ZtOR m I: 'l! I i l l 1 n H JOHN NICHOLAS Harza, DECEASED, m p 3y Ml/01v SAVINGS aJRusr 00., R m H I CARL J. narzngxmurozs l In :1 I 1 R y BY ATTORNEY CONCRETE EXPANSION JOINTS John Nicholas Heltzel, deceased, late of Warren, Ohio,

by Union Savings & Trust Company and Carl J. Heltzel, executors, Warren, Ohio Application January 3, 1955, Serial No. 479,529 --1 Claims; or. 94-18) This present invention is a continuation in part of that disclosed in Patent No. 2,698,5 60,dated J anuary 4," 1955 (application filed March 4, 1947), and relates toimprovements in the so called beamed expansion joint.

According to this'joint construction a sill or beam of suitable material, such as concrete, is embedded inthe subgrade of a road or airport runwayat-a'point predetermined by its location beneath a proposed expansion or contraction joint to be produced between a pair of concrete slabs. The same are t'o be poured later or are to be placed over the beam. l

V The principal object of the invention isto'provide 'a' construction of the type characterized and including tension means connecting thebeam't'o the slabs and permitting the latter to exp'and or contract in any direction but preventing the slab ends from moving up and down.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction as contemplated by the stated principal object, and further characterized by tension means stressed during' the expansionof the slabs and by virtue-of such stress contributing towardsthe relief of the tension developing in the slabs during the contraction.

With/these and other objects in view which will'bec ome' apparent as the invention" is fully comprehended, the

same resides in the novelty of construction, combination and'arrangement of elements and method of'constru'cting' the combination of elements. Both the" combination of elements and the method of constructing the combination will hereinafter be described intheir specific details' and are claimed in the subjoined claims.

- The description should be read fin accompanying i and whereinz' Fig. 1 is'a fragmentary perspectiveview off-a novel. slab and support-provided expansion joint wherein'xthe. slabs have an improved shiftabl'e, connection withfa novel subgrade embedded supporting beamor sill, which latter is shown partlyin perspective-and partly in crossfsec-j tion; I

. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on-the OfFig. r :1 'ji Fig. 3- is an enlarged sectional detail of one upper tension rod'bearingsand related parts;

a Fig. 4 isa perspectiveview of an upper; ,tension rod bearing cover; and i r -'Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view portiongoif skeletal beam frame. I j Y s 1 Referring specifically-to1the drawings-and having particular reference to Fig. lg; it isseento disclosefa-sill'or' beam 41 submerged in the 'subgrade 42. Preferably, this beam extends completely acrossthegroadwayaand below;

the joint space 43 fbetweenadjacent ends of the slabs 44.

connection with the drawings, forming part of the application 2839,97? lc Patented June 24, 1 958 crete, sill or beam 41 to carry a load, it has'been rein forced by rigid steel members 45 of U-shaped cross section embedded therein and extending transversely thereof or longitudinally of the roadway. The sides of members 45 have spaced holes- 45a through which the forcing bars or members 47 which are disposed transversely of'the joint 43.

Tension bars or members 53 connect the slabs and beam 41 at opposite sides of the joint 43 to admit of relative horizontal shifting of same and are supported by anchorage terminal members 48 and 63 as shown.

A beam extending completely across'a'multiple slab width,

roadway would undoubtedly,- have to be poured on -thejob. However,,a plur sills or beams lai hauled to the'place, could replace thesing'le beam.

1 s d of;relying q ial ef m m sitlit ls f 9213.

as 1 a practical proposition, V lit fi dsendto end and possibly preeast and and reinforcing means Anchorage terminal members 48 are each seated in beam-carried sockets 49 which are welded to the superposed lower edges of U-member 45 and covered by covers 50. Each of said terminal members 48 have in their lower portion a notch 51 receiving a rib 52 formed 'on' the interior of the cover 50 and holding the terminal member 48 against rotation. In this connection it is to be understood that covers 50 are initially frictioned onto socket-provided collars and are subsequently held fast by the poured concrete. The covers 50 are water-tight and are filled with a supply of lubricant. The terminal members 48 are threaded at their upper ends projectingforcing channel or U-member 45, which latter is oversizedlyapertured for the free passage of the tension'members 53.

The members of the disclosure so far described form part of the be'am 41 structure and may be encased with either concrete or bituminous material. It the rigidity of member 45 is ample, the same may be encased in bituminous material for protection against rust.

"The use of bituminous material as a rust-induced dew for member 45, makes it terioration preventer, as stated 7 dispense withthe spacing possible ,in many instances to 46 and 47. casewhere means. and 47 were used in conjunction with 45 to supply st'rengthto supplement that of-45 when partially rusted away. However, similar .means could be used for use of concrete inthe formation of beam 41 will make it possible to use lighter members ,45 than would be the case,otherwise.- i

.It -rnayj prove "practical to position the beam 41 ele-, ments so far pour the'conerete and surface itso that the resultingbeain has a top bearing portionfiush withthe subgrade. Care should be taken .to preventtheinfiltration ofany concrete into'a tubular member 54, since such concrete might Such would be I the supporting members 45 in positionduring the application, of the bituminous material. The

described on the subgrade, and to then';

Afteri-the beam 4 '1}has been placed in position," haltforother, 'cove'rf strip 56 is laced ove the of the slabs 44.

53; denotes lineall-y extending reinforcing ribs pressed,

into members 58 intermediateiits ends to rigidify the, same and enable me to use lighter gauge material than would otherwise be possible. .The upper and lower angularly directed ends of members 58 are provided with holes 584 for anchoring purposes. a

The slide or base portion 53!; ofeach member,5 8. is provided with an opening 58 registering with anjopeningin the horizontal fiange or web of member Eachns on member is nse t t ou h t e e o e n s in the members 515 and 58 and is surrounded by'a'tubular member 62 preventing the inflltration'of foreign matter,

The upper end of each tension rnember 53, is, formed by a l nob-like tcrminalimember 63 capable of universal movement in socket 64 resting on top of. the tube 62 and covered by cap or cover 65. The terminal member 63 has on its upper side a notch 63a for the insertion of the flange of a wrench-like implement whereby the tension rod 53 may be turned and threadedinto or out'of the part 48. Or cap 65 can be of hex form and have a key flange 63b engaging in notch 63a so that the tension member 53 can be unscrewed from member 48. by simply applyinga wrench to the cap 65. Also, the terminal member 63 can be threaded onto the upper end of the tension member 53 employing opposite threads to those which connect the lower end of 53 to 48. The insertion of the wrench when used,.must, of course, be preceded by the removal of the cap 65 which, in its. operative position, prevents the entryof foreign matter.

asaaors Y frame member 45 reinforces the beam or sill in a lengthwise direction by being anchored in the raised loadsupporting portion 68 beyond drainage channel 69. The bearing-providing cross members 49 serve also to strengthen the U-member 45 of the beam frame while the bight portion of U-member 45 provides the beam 41 with a hard load-supporting top portion.

Since the tension bars 53 can be unscrewed from the lower terminal members 48 the beam 41 and adjoining sub'grade 42 can be rolled with the beam in place preparatory to the pouring of the slabs 44.

What is claimed is:

1. In a Slab-formed roadway or runway construction, a subgrade embedded load trausfer member extending across an expansion joint from beneathadjacent slabs and comprising functionally integral top and bottom bar members and intermediate connecting members, said connecting members located at least adjacent opposite ends of the bar members, said top bar member having a vertical hole at opposite sides of the joint space between slabs, upwardly extending tension, bars diametrically smaller than saidholes and extending therethrough for anchoring conup neetion in and to the related slabs, a bearing head secured to the lower end of each tension bar, head-retaining bearing means at the lower face of said top bar member, sleeue-like members extending upwardly and downwardly,

respectively, from the top and bottom of said top bar member spacedly surrounding said tension bars, the upper ones of said sleeves removably supported by said top bar member, an upper bearing head on each of said tension rods, and supporting bearings carried by the top ends of the upper sleeves and receiving the respective upper bearingheads, said supporting bearings being embedded in the In order to properly space rigid members prior to, V

pouring of beam 4 1,..spacers 67 extending longitudinally of the beams 41 are provided and, secured to the former by welding or otherwise. Thus in Fig. l such members are seen to be V-shaped in cross section and toextend bight portions thereof. p v e Drainage and friction are important factors in expansion joints. In order toreduce the friction on the top surface of the sill or beam 41 on which the slabs 44,.44;,bear,' and at the same time to provide for drain age, the top of the beam orsill 41jis provided with corrugations 68 spaced from one'another-by drain channels 69 sloping downward from the bottom of the expansion joint 43. i

The asphalt cover 561is, positioned between the top surfaces of the corrugations 68 and the botjtbmsurfaces" 69. Thisdrainage also relieves the tension members53 of excessive strains; otherwiseimpo'sed on by the freezing of the moisture. I L

The top. surfaces of the corrugations 68 are ley'el and lie flush, or.;in plane with, the subgrade of rdadway, The tension members 53 are anchored in the corrugations 68 and do not .projectithrough the drain channels 69.

It should be understood that the corrugated" '(68) base or beam 41 proposition with thedrainage'ichannelsfti! may be used in connection with contractidiijoints, also called dummy-type joints. f i J will be understood from ,the teregoi g read-in 'coni related slabs.

2. In a slab-formed roadway or runway construction, a subgrade embedded load-transfer member extending across an expansionjoint'from beneath adjacent slabs and comprising functionally integral top and bottom bar members, and intermediate connecting members, said connecting members located at least adjacent opposite ends of the bar members, said top bar member having a vertical hole at opposite sides of .the joint space between slabs, upwardly extending tension bars diametrically smaller than said through1 the sides of channel ,n ember's 45 adjacent, the I holes andextending therethrough for anchoring connection in and to theslabs, a bearing head secured to the lowerend of each tension bar, head-retaining bearing means at the lower face of said top bar member, sleevelike. members extending upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from the top and bottom of said top bar memher and spacedly surrounding said tension bars, the upper ones of said sleeves removably supported by said top'bar member, an upper bearing head on each of said tension rods, and supporting bearingscarried by the top ends of lubricant may be applied the upper sleeves and receiving the respective upper bearing heads, anchoring means; carried by said last-mentioned sleeve-carried bearings to be embedded in the slab when poured, and a removable upper bearing head-enclosing cap carried by said last-mentioned sleeve-carried bearings.- r t 3. The'combination-set forth in claim 1 and said lower bearing heads detachably secured to said tension bars whereby the latter and the upper'sleeves can be removed when the subgrade with the beam embedded therein is to be rolled prior to the pouring of the slabs.

4. The combination set forth in claim-Z, and said top bar member being of inverted channel form and the lower head-retaining bearing means including a plate secured to and connecting the sides of said channel form bar.

' [j 5. In a roadway or runway construction wherein a-pair of'sla bs provide a joint'space therebetween, a subgradeembedded" beam extending lengthwise of the joint space and slidably supporting said slabs, a series of laterally or sill 41. Also, .the member 67 whic h'is supported in" spacedslab load supporting ridges provided on the top surface of said beam and extending across the'joint space, whereby to reduce the area of frictional engagement be tween the beam and slabs and to thus facilitate expansion and contraction-produced sliding movement of the slabs at opposite sides of the joint space, the spaces between said ridges constituting drainage channels for carrying away moisture from the joint space, and horizontal movement permitting tie means connecting said slabs to said beam, there being a yield-permitting relief area surrounding each of said tie means.

6. In a roadway or runway construction comprising adjacent slabs providing a joint space therebetween, a subgrade-embedded beam of substantial width extending lengthwise of said joint space and supporting the slabs at opposite sides of the latter, laterally spaced slab-supporting ridges rising from the top surface of said beam and extending crosswise of the joint space, said ridges providing drainage channels therebetween and reducing the area of frictional engagement between the slabs and beams so as to promote expansion and contraction-produced sliding movement of the slabs, an inverted channel form reinforcing member embedded in certain of said ridges and extending across the joint space with its bight wall at approximately the top surface of the related ridge, means supporting said channel members during the pouring of the concrete beam, and comprising longitudinally extending beam-reinforcing connector bars carried by and extending through the side walls of said channel-form reinforcing members at opposite sides of the joint space, horizontal movement-permitting tie means connecting said slabs to said beam, there being a yield-permitting relief area surrounding each of said tie means, and said tie means being secured to one of said beam-reinforcing members.

7. In a slab-formed roadway construction providing a joint space between adjacent slabs, a reinforced concrete subgrade-embedded beam supporting said slabs at opposie sides of the joint space for expansion and contractioninduced sliding movement, said beam extending length- 6 wise of the joint space, a beam-carried reinforcing meni= =ber of inverted channel form and extending across said joint space, a second beam-reinforcing member spaced below said. channel form member and also extending across said joint space, spacing members carried by said second reinforcing member and connected to the depending side flanges of the channel form member for supporting the latter adjacent the top surface of the beam to be formed during the pouring of the concrete and its subsequent setting stage, horizontal movement-permitting tie means connecting each of said slabs to the channel-form beam-reinforcing member beneath the bight wall of the latter, there being a yield-permitting relief area surrounding each of said tie means, and a separable connection between each tie means and the beam-carried channelform member and in part provided by each of the latter, whereby the said tie means can be detached from the beam-carried channel-form member after the beam is embedded in the subgrade so as to permit rolling or packing of the latter preparatory to the pouring of the concrete slabs, said tie means to be re-attached to said channelforrn member when the slabs are to be poured.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,773,918 Mathews Aug. 26, 1930 1,817,914 Billner Aug. 11, 1931 2,050,290 Early Aug. 11, 1936 2,051,228 Sondag Aug. 18, 1936 2,072,381 Post Mar. 2, 1937 2,082,805 Mathven June 8, 1137 2,203,078 Carter June 4, 1940 2,244,315 Ridgeway June 3, 1941 2,319,049 Fischer May 11, 1943 2,342,181 Crom Feb. 22, 1944 

